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A battle cry for
the Republicans
This letter is regarding the constant, anti-American, anti-military, anti-party of everything, the Democrats.
President Bush needs to get out there in front of the media and loudly and strongly denounce these big mouths as they do on a daily basis.
You cannot sit back and let them continuously attack and sit back and do nothing.
President Bush may not be running again, but the party needs to survive once he is gone, and if the Democrats are allowed to continue to stomp and trample all over it, they will win in 2006 and 2008.
Get out there, get tough, get loud, get mean, and GET THEM.
Barbara O’Donnell
Somerton
A battle of man
vs. nature
Does anyone else beside myself see how convoluted the accidental shooting of Dick Cheney’s friend has become? It’s unfortunate that the accident happened, but more important is another matter ignored by the media.
Cheney claims that he will never forget seeing how his friend fell to the ground after the pellet shot him. But doesn’t it also upset him to see a quail or other wildlife fall to the ground from a bullet? And if not, why not?
When Cheney shoots a bird and it falls, that’s no accident, it’s a deliberate mindset. In my opinion, the true accident is that the vice president enjoys shooting for the sport of it without concern for Earth’s beautiful living wildlife. Someone, please take away his gun.
Eileen Massi
Rhawnhurst
• • •
Ah, yes, there’s our vice president, sending other people’s sons and daughters into danger in Iraq, while he travels down to Texas with his shotgun to blast the life out of nature’s beautiful creatures. What a man!
Darlene Finch
Somerton
Cheers and jeers on
the Bush commentary
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read John Scanlon’s commentary (Worst president ever? W marks the spot, Feb. 9 edition) — the editor of the Northeast Times telling its very "Republican" readers the truth.
I surely appreciate your courage and hope that you have opened the eyes of some of those Republicans that voted for this man (in spite of his previous record).
I know that the abortion issue is a major concern here in our very Catholic Northeast, however, a priest I recently spoke to said that the Catholic Church is concerned with life from conception to death, and thanks to President Bush’s policies we have lost thousands of lives.
The Republican Party has always been known to take care of the rich. Wake up, Northeast Philly. We are not "the rich," but we will be "the poor" if you continue to vote for a candidate and a party that does not serve the interests of the disappearing middle class!
Thanks, Mr. Scanlon, for your honest editorial, but I can only wonder how many residents of Northeast Philly read it or read anything, since we live in a community without one book store!
Linda Hayes
Mayfair
• • •
By now, I’m used to reading "Scanlon’s screed," the predictable partisan comments about our president. One can certainly complain about issues like the lack of immigration reform, or an out-of-control federal budget (but then again, the Democrats’ long track record here is woeful, too.)
But where are the alternative ideas? I’m afraid Mr. Scanlon reflects the disturbing "unhinged" quality in many partisan Democrats. All they offer is insult.
Listening to congressional Democrats derisively applaud the president’s State of the Union speech when he talked about lack of action on Social Security reform, reminds me of childish petulance. To support "doing nothing" here burdens future generations and is politically irresponsible.
Listening to former President Jimmy Carter take the solemn occasion of Mrs. King’s funeral to blast the administration’s Katrina response as bigotry, makes me wonder if partisanship can get more loathsome. And I say this as a longtime Democrat myself, one who is sick of his party.
The Democrats’ main weapon is the shop-worn practice of identity politics — "us" vs. "them." In attacking Judge Alito with snide comments about white-male privilege, being (Italian and) soft on organized crime, etc., they reinforce ugly stereotypes.
Honestly, why today would any young, ambitious white male want to be a Democrat? And I won’t go into the war on terror.
We all have concerns about it. Yet I would like to know if the national Democratic leadership is on the side of the USA or the terrorists? It’s hard to tell. Is FDR rolling over in his grave?
The truth is, Mr. Scanlon, that the real political debate (and energy) these days is "within" the Republican Party. Mavericks like Sen. John McCain and Rep. Tom Tancredo are the "real" loyal opposition.
The Democrats sit on the sidelines, hurl insults and when asked for their alternatives, go "duh."
Mr. Scanlon should lighten up on the president. Instead, he should be urging the Democratic Party to clean house, shuffle the cards and give us a "new deal."
Richard Iaconelli
Rhawnhurst
• • •
Mr. Scanlon’s scathing commentary of President Bush is way off base. How do I know? Sports Illustrated recently did an article about boxing promoter Don King, who claims (often) that "George W. Bush is the greatest president EVER!"
...And we know Don King doesn’t lie...
Bill Mather
Holmesburg
• • •
Hurray for John Scanlon. It was the most truthful and best editorial yet.
Audrey Asroff
Bustleton
Put the heat on
Krajewski and Mariano
Northeast Philadelphians are lucky to have a premiere cancer treatment center in the neighborhood. Fox Chase Cancer Center’s outstanding doctors and nurses use advanced technologies in its mission to "reduce the burden of human cancer."
If only our local City Council members shared this goal. Sadly, Joan Krajewski and Richard Mariano currently oppose a citywide smoking ban, a bill with the potential to greatly improve the health of Northeast Philadelphians.
Secondhand smoke is dangerous. It contains 69 chemicals known to cause cancer. The EPA classifies secondhand smoke in the same category as asbestos, yet many Northeast Philadelphians are being exposed to these toxic fumes every day at work.
Studies show that food service workers who are non-smokers have a 50 percent greater risk of lung cancer than people in other professions. Some would say if you don’t like the smoke, get another job, but sometimes there is no other option. Employees of all ages deserve a healthy environment no matter where they work.
Recently, smoke-free legislation was introduced into City Council. The bill has not yet gained enough votes to pass. The Far Northeast’s Brian O’Neill has pledged his support. Hopefully he will go a step further and work hard to bring additional votes to this critical measure.
Some argue that government shouldn’t tell businesses or citizens what to do. There are already numerous health codes that restaurants and bars must meet. If the government tells a business its kitchen must be clean, shouldn’t it also require an acceptable air quality? If we won’t tolerate asbestos in our buildings, why should we tolerate secondhand smoke, which is equally dangerous?
It’s true that each individual has the freedom to choose to smoke; however, personal freedom is not an excuse to expose others to toxic fumes.
Some bar and restaurant owners worry that a smoking ban would hurt their business. However this claim has never been substantiated in any city, state, or nation that has enacted smoking legislation.
Last month New Jersey passed a smoking ban, so business owners no longer need to worry about smokers fleeing across the bridge. A 2003 survey showed that 75.1 percent of Philadelphians are non-smokers. Rather than losing money, undoubtedly businesses will gain revenue as the majority of Philadelphians will find a non-smoking atmosphere more enjoyable.
Joan Krajewski and Richard Mariano seem to have chosen to listen to business owners who fear change (and probably have deep pockets) over the vast majority of Philadelphians who support this move. It’s time that Northeast Philadelphians demand more from our elected officials.
Call your City Council representatives today and tell them to protect the health of the hard-working people of the Northeast by voting in favor of smoke-free legislation.
They are:
Brian O’Neill, 215-686-3422, 215-686-3423
Joan Krajewski 215-686-3444, 215-686-3445
Richard Mariano 215-686-3448, 215-686-3449
Anne Marie McKnight
Mayfair
From Street, a snow
job on the streets
Here we go again! Nothing like a big snowstorm to show us where our tax dollars from the Northeast are NOT going. Every year it’s the same thing — snowstorms hit the city, and only a certain amount of streets get plowed all of the time. The rest of us are left to fend for ourselves.
Why are places like New Jersey, Bucks County, Bensalem, and even New York City getting their streets all clear? It is because they have mayors with a plan, that’s why. These places even treat all of their roads before the well-predicted storms.
Every time it snows, and as sure as God made little green apples, there is our mayor on the TV, patting himself on the back on what a wonderful job he did on clearing the snow off our city streets. He is the master of his own little universe, which only includes Center City and a few of his favorite streets.
News flash to the mayor of Philadelphia: There’s a great big city out there, and believe it or not, you are supposed to be the mayor of ALL Philadelphia, not just your favorite haunts. If you can get Center City cleared like it never even snowed, surely you can do something for the rest of Philadelphia without all the excuses on why not.
We are paying too much in taxes in the Northeast (I can only speak for the Northeast) to have to be stranded for days waiting for the big meltdown, or waiting for good Samaritans to come along and plow us out with his personal plow (thank God for them).
So how about getting with the program like our neighbors in the surrounding cities and townships? Sending a crew three or four days after the storm just for appearances’ sake or show is just not cutting it.
Also, while you are at it, can you please do something about these ignorant, inconsiderate people who throw the snow back out in the street on these rare occasions you do send a plow? I thought that was worth a $300 fine.
Diane McDowell
Parkwood
Holy Redeemer: A tradition
of maternity care excellence
In a Jan. 12 letter to the editor regarding the closing of the maternity program at Frankford Hospital’s Torresdale campus, concerned writer Kurt Krauss raises the question, "Where will Northeast residents have to travel to have a baby?"
Located less than a mile from the Northeast Philadelphia county line, Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center offers convenient access to expert care in all areas of obstetrics and gynecology. Northeast Philadelphia mothers represented about half of our 2,000 maternity patients last year. Additionally, to further serve the Northeast Philadelphia community, Holy Redeemer’s obstetricians have offices in Far Northeast and Northeast Philadelphia neighborhoods, and close by in lower Bucks and Montgomery counties.
Holy Redeemer’s full-service maternity center was recently renovated and expanded to 30 private maternity suites. Our 10 labor and delivery suites; two dedicated operating rooms for Caesarean sections; antenatal testing center staffed by high risk maternity specialists; 24 hour-a-day in-house obstetrician coverage; advanced infant security; and Level II neonatal intensive care unit with 24 hour-a-day neonatology coverage, equipped to safely care for newborns as tiny as 1 pound, all combine to give parents added peace of mind when choosing to have their babies at Holy Redeemer.
Beyond Holy Redeemer’s ability to provide clinically advanced maternity services with specially trained nurses and physicians, our holistic approach to care is unique among healthcare providers. We believe that caring goes beyond the act of delivering the most advanced medical services. It involves meeting the emotional, spiritual and social services needs of those we serve.
For almost 50 years, women in Northeast Philadelphia have had a unique place to deliver their babies that provides the most advanced care with a warm, compassionate touch. So the answer to the question, "Where will Northeast residents have to travel to have a baby?" is — as it has been for tens of thousands of Northeast Philadelphia mothers — Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center.
Holy Redeemer is proud to be the maternity choice for generations of Northeast Philadelphians, and we are committed to continuing to serve the needs of our community well into the future.
For more information about Holy Redeemer’s obstetrics and gynecology care, for a referral to an obstetrician, or for a tour of Holy Redeemer’s maternity center, call 1-800-818-4747.
Shelly Urofsky
Chief operating officer, Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center
Stuart Dershaw, M.D.
Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center
Cartoon controversy
is no laughing matter
Both the Denmark newspaper and the people of the Middle East are to blame for the recent outburst of violence regarding the Prophet Mohammed cartoons.
Given all the violence already going on over there on a daily basis toward the West, you would think that the publisher of these cartoons would have had enough common sense not to publish such defamation toward the Islam religion.
I believe in freedom of speech, but the cartoon was just plain racist. It would seem as if the Koran condones the acts of violence that the religious fundamentalists in the Middle East partake in. The cartoon is more than likely a tool by the Western media to justify Western presence in the region. The Muslims have every right to complain. If they made a cartoon depicting Jesus as a killer, you can guarantee every Christian fundamentalist from Pat Robertson to Jesse Jackson would be calling for a second Crusade.
But the Muslims who are killing people over it are out of line. Yes, the comics were wrong and should not have been published, but how many lives were taken by publishing that cartoon? By acting so savagely and killing people for it, the fundamentalists are only reinforcing the exact stereotype they are complaining about.
Both sides need to apologize for their actions.
Andrew Iavecchia
Mayfair
Clean vehicle will help
to clear the air
As someone who enjoys spending time outdoors, walking, running, playing sports, etc., I support the Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program. As someone who helps mentor young runners, I know the importance that this program will have in promoting healthy air for public health.
Poor air quality exacerbates respiratory disease, such as asthma. And one of the leading causes of poor air quality in Pennsylvania is passenger vehicles. In fact, passenger vehicles account for a third of the smog pollution problem that plagues Pennsylvania. By implementing strong tailpipe emission standards, the Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program will significantly cut back on pollution from passenger vehicles.
The program has other benefits as well. It will increase the gas mileage of many of the cars and trucks sold in the state, saving consumers money at the gas pump. And it will require auto makers to offer a greater number of cleaner cars for sale in the state, increasing the choices consumers have when looking for fuel-efficient cars, trucks and SUVs.
In all, this is a program that will benefit the public, both as individuals and as consumers.
Tim Kelly
Lower Mayfair
Tony’s family
says thank you
The family of Anthony "Tony" Grauber would like to give a sincere thank you to everyone who has shown such compassion and generosity during this very difficult time.
Your love, kind words, prayers, concern and donations are greatly appreciated and will never be forgotten.
The support we received continues to be of great comfort. Tony would have been very touched and proud to know how much he was loved.
A benefit for his children will be held on Saturday, March 4, at St. Anne Social Hall (second floor), located at Tucker and Memphis streets, from 7 to 11 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at 2441 Sepviva St. For more information, call Tiffany at 267-290-4610 or Maureen at 215-852-1646.
Education leads
to power of the mind
Yes! The recognition of the power of the mind. You have to discover the power that you hold inside of you. Education is the key that unlocks the door to life. But you need to pick up that key and put it in the lock.
Education is the hammer and your life is the nail. Use that hammer to bang in the nail. Poor people lack education. That is why they are out there calling to people. And only at night will the rats answer their call. If you keep on going back into a poor man’s history, it will always go back to lack of education. Only a poor fool who lacks education will accept it eagerly but then squander it on folly. For is that not how he became poor? Is it not?
Tevin Sharkey
Mayfair
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